New LumiFoldTB Portable Resin 3d Printer by Davide Marin

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

DM : When I started to work in the development of additive manufacture devices, the main focus has always been compactness and portability. In 2013 I designed the LumiFold, followed by LumiPocket, two compact resin-based 3D printers which were still using an external beamer to cure the 3D printing material. New Lumifold, is an idea I had back in 2014 to have a stand alone 3d printer that could be compact and even portable and with a 3D printing volume smaller that device itself's volume.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

DM : The main focus was on the patented mechanical system. I wanted a smooth and precise lifting movement, suitable for high precision 3D printing but taking small space and little weight, because the idea is that the device is not only compact but also portable.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

DM : To find a company interested in buying the project or investing to further develop it.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

DM : Initial concept was born in 2014 and final working prototype was made in 2019.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

DM : I had the initial idea. Later I found a potential investor interested in using the Lumifold TB to quickly 3D Print parts in developing countries. He contributed to the vision of the LumiFold TB even if in the end he did no invest in it.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

DM : I would like to sell this project to companies, rather then producing it directly.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

DM : I thought that a compact and portable 3D Printer can have are several advantages: it takes up little space, it is easier to share it and it opens the way for interesting scenarios; such as a teacher who can bring a 3D printer in his suitcase and print 3d models during his lessons; or doctors that during a conference can make 3D printed parts for colleagues, or patients, showing the part where they intend to operate. Possible scenarios do include also live presentations for jewelry or fashion companies, in which it would be possible to go to the presentation with your 3D printer and create for the customer, or with the customer, a prototype.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

DM : The FoldRap (2012) is a similar concept, one a different technology of 3D Printing (fused filament) and it inspired me to make to New Lumifold TB.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

DM : Jewelry industry, dental and medical field, are just some among the potential customers.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

DM : There are a few portable concepts for 3D Printers, but almost all of them involve fused filament instead of the much more detailed photo curable resin that I used in the project I developed.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

DM : A compact, even portable, 3D printer has several advantages. New LumiFold TB name originates from "Lumi", since 3D printing technology implemented in it uses 3D resins cured by light. In this case, by a tablet screen light, therefore the final "TB". "Fold", because the 3D printer really folds on itself to become extra compact. "New", because it is the evolution of a previous project. Presented in 2013, Lumifold was a foldable 3D printer body using an external DLP beamer for 3D printing light curing resins. It introduced the idea of portability in stereolithography Additive Manufacturing.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

DM : Most of the design work was done in Solidworks; renders in Keyshot and refined in Photoshop. Arduino IDE for the firmware, Eagle Design for the PCB design, Xcode for the App. I did personally every step of these.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

DM : It is probably the only resin based 3D Printer in the world that is portable, fits in a suitcase, and is ready to be used without assembly.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

DM : This design is all made by one single person (me) . I did by myself all the mechanical design, electronic design, writing firmware and software, building and testing a prototype already optimized for production, document the whole process.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

DM : 3D Printing with visible light on liquid resin is a very advanced technology, and this design takes this to the next level incorporating this design in a portable and ultra compact machine.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

DM : I did some Market research to find the potential customers and markets for this design.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

DM : One of the most difficult parts of the design is to fit a compact linear system able to lift some KGs, with good precision, and that is as small as possible.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

DM : Because I think it has a unique design and I want to share it with as many people as possible.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

DM : My skills in designing and building complex electro-mechanical projects in a tiny space have really improved!